Hybrid cooling storage device

ABSTRACT

A hybrid cooling storage device, including a main body to store at least one item therein, a lid pivotally disposed on at least a portion of the main body to cover an interior portion of the main body, and a hybrid cooling unit disposed on and within at least a portion of the main body, including a liquid conduit disposed within at least a portion of each side of the main body to transport a liquid therein, a conduit connector connected to a first end and a second end of the liquid conduit to dissipate heat from the liquid received from the liquid conduit, a peltier plate disposed on at least a portion of the conduit connector to create a difference in temperature between a first side and a second side of the peltier plate, such that the first side is cold and the second side is hot, a heat sink disposed on at least a portion of the peltier plate to dissipate heat generated on the peltier plate, and a fan disposed on at least a portion of the heat sink to extract heat from the heat sink via a rotation of the fan.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present general inventive concept relates generally to a storagedevice, and particularly, to a hybrid cooling storage device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many people travel with beverages in a vehicle over long distances.However, long distance travel is difficult when the drinks are still inliquid form. They can easily be spilled in the vehicle if the peopleencounter rugged terrain. Moreover, the spilled beverage can damage aninterior of the vehicle and/or any apparel.

Also, drinks can become hot and unpleasant after traveling for longperiods of time, which causes the consumer to have a less enjoyabledrinking experience.

A conventional cooler is a portable storage device to store and/ortransport food and/or drinks therein. Some coolers have foam to keep atemperature inside cold. Still, other coolers use a fan or other airdispersion means to circulate air within an interior portion of thecooler. Unfortunately, air cooling depends on an efficient air blower,such as a fan. Also, if the temperature of surrounding air is too hot,it doesn't matter how much air the fan is blowing.

Therefore, there is a need for a hybrid cooling storage device that usesliquid as well as air for cooling.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a hybrid cooling storagedevice.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may be achieved by providing a hybrid cooling storagedevice, including a main body to store at least one item therein, a lidpivotally disposed on at least a portion of the main body to cover aninterior portion of the main body, and a hybrid cooling unit disposed onand within at least a portion of the main body, including a liquidconduit disposed within at least a portion of each side of the main bodyto transport a liquid therein, a conduit connector connected to a firstend and a second end of the liquid conduit to dissipate heat from theliquid received from the liquid conduit, a peltier plate disposed on atleast a portion of the conduit connector to create a difference intemperature between a first side and a second side of the peltier plate,such that the first side is cold and the second side is hot, a heat sinkdisposed on at least a portion of the peltier plate to dissipate heatgenerated on the peltier plate, and a fan disposed on at least a portionof the heat sink to extract heat from the heat sink via a rotation ofthe fan.

The hybrid cooling storage device may further include a liquid pumpconnected to at least a portion of the liquid conduit to move the liquidthrough the liquid conduit.

The hybrid cooling storage device may further include a liquidcondensation unit connected to at least a portion of the liquid conduitto cool hot air released from at least one of the conduit connector, thepeltier plate, and the heat sink using the liquid conduit, such that theliquid condensation unit generates and collects liquid droplets formedon an outer surface of the liquid conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generallyinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a top isometric view of a hybrid cooling storagedevice, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 1B illustrates a side sectional view of the hybrid cooling storagedevice, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a hybrid cooling unit, accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now bedescribed more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, thethicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated forclarity.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of variousmodifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown byway of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit exampleembodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary,example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbersrefer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present. Other words used to describe therelationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion(e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directlyadjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exampleembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when usedherein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presenceor addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art.However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a termdeviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill,this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context thisdefinition is given herein.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

-   -   Hybrid Cooling Storage Device 100    -   Main Body 110    -   Aperture 111    -   Groove 112    -   Liquid Extraction Portion 113    -   Lid 120    -   Groove 121    -   Lid Recess 122    -   Hybrid Cooling Unit 130    -   Liquid Conduit 131    -   Conduit Connector 132    -   First Connection Portion 132 a    -   Second Connection Portion 132 b    -   Peltier Plate 133    -   First Side 133 a    -   Second Side 133 b    -   Heat Sink 134    -   Fan 135    -   Liquid Pump 140    -   Liquid Condensation Unit 150    -   Power Source 160

FIG. 1A illustrates a top isometric view of a hybrid cooling storagedevice 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side sectional view of the hybrid cooling storagedevice 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

The hybrid cooling storage device 100 may be constructed from at leastone of metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, glass, foam, and rubber, etc., butis not limited thereto.

The hybrid cooling storage device 100 may include a main body 110, a lid120, a hybrid cooling unit 130, a liquid pump 140, a liquid condensationunit 150, and a power source 160, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the main body 110 is illustrated to have a roundedrectangular prism shape. However, the main body 110 may be a rectangularprism, circular, conical, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal,or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is notlimited thereto.

The main body 110 may be constructed to have foam disposed within atleast a portion of each side of the main body 110 to maintain a cooltemperature therein. As such, the main body 110 may store at least oneitem therein, such that the at least one item, such as ice, a frozenbeverage, and/or a frozen liquid may not melt while disposed within themain body 110.

The main body 110 may include an aperture 111, at least one groove 112,and a liquid extraction portion 113, but is not limited thereto.

The aperture 111 may allow the at least one item to be inserted into themain body 110.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the at least one groove 112 is illustratedto be disposed on a first side of the main body 110. However, another atleast one groove 112 may be disposed on a second side of the main body110 opposite with respect to the first side and/or any other side of themain body 110. In other words, there may be a plurality of grooves 112.The at least one groove 112 may facilitate gripping thereof.Furthermore, the at least one groove 112 may allow the main body 110 tobe picked up by a user.

The liquid extraction portion 113 may facilitate extraction of anotherliquid stored within the main body 110. More specifically, the liquidextraction portion 113 may be an aperture connected to an interiorportion of the main body 110, such that any liquid accumulation may flowout from the liquid extraction portion 113. Also, the liquid extractionportion 113 may include a door, such that the door may be closed toprevent access therein.

The lid 120 may include a groove 121 and a lid recess 122, but is notlimited thereto.

The lid 120 may be pivotally disposed on at least a portion of a topsurface of the main body 110. The lid 120 may cover the interior portionof the main body 110. Moreover, the lid 120 may be moved from coveringthe main body 110 in a first position (i.e. closed) to at leastpartially away from the main body 110 in a second position (i.e.opened). Alternatively, the lid 120 may be removably disposed, such thatthe lid 120 may be removed completely from the main body 110.

Furthermore, the lid 120 may be constructed to have foam to maintain acool temperature while covering the interior portion of the main body110.

The groove 121 of the lid 120 may facilitate gripping thereof, such thatthe lid 120 may be moved.

The lid recess 122 may be a recessed surface with respect to a bottomsurface of the lid 120. In other words, the lid recess 122 may provideextra space within the interior portion of the main body 110 in responseto closing the lid 120. For example, if the user stores a bottle thathas a height exceeding the top surface of the main body 110, the lidrecess 122 may receive at least a portion of the bottle therein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a hybrid cooling unit 130,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

The hybrid cooling unit 130 may include a liquid conduit 131, a conduitconnector 132, a peltier plate 133, a heat sink 134, and a fan 135, butis not limited thereto.

The hybrid cooling unit 130 may be disposed on and/or within at least aportion of the main body 110.

The liquid conduit 131 may be disposed within at least a portion of eachside of the main body 110. The liquid conduit 131 may store and/ortransport a liquid (e.g., water) therein.

The conduit connector 132 may be constructed of aluminum to preventand/or minimize conduction of heat.

The conduit connector 132 may include a first connection portion 132 aand a second connection portion 132 b, but is not limited thereto.

Each end of the liquid conduit 131 may connect to the conduit connector132. In other words, a first end of the liquid conduit 131 may connectto the first connection portion 132 a and a second end of the liquidconduit 131 may connect to the second connection portion 132 b. Theconduit connector 132 may dissipate heat from the liquid received fromthe liquid conduit 131.

The peltier plate 133 may include a first side 133 a and a second side133 b, but is not limited thereto.

The peltier plate 133 may be disposed on at least a portion of theconduit connector 132 and/or at least a portion of the heat sink 134.The peltier plate 133 may use thermoelectric cooling via a peltiereffect to create a heat flux from the conduit connector 132 and/or theheat sink 134. A voltage received on the peltier plate 133 may create adifference in temperature to form between the first side 133 a and/orthe second side 133 b. Specifically, the first side 133 a may remaincold and the second side 133 b may be hot and/or have a hottertemperature with respect to the first side 133 a.

The heat sink 134 may be disposed on at least a portion of the secondside 133 b of the peltier plate 133. The heat sink 134 may beconstructed of aluminum to prevent and/or minimize conduction of heat onthe peltier plate 133. In other words, the heat sink 134 may dissipateheat generated on the peltier plate 133.

The fan 135 may be disposed on at least a portion of the heat sink 134.The fan 135 may blow away from the heat sink 134 to extract heat and/orhot air from the heat sink 134 via a rotation of the fan 135.

As such, the hybrid cooling unit 130 may transport the liquid therein toremove heat from within the main body 110, such that the least one itemdoes not melt and/or freezes.

The liquid pump 140 may include a motor, but is not limited thereto.

The liquid pump 140 may be connected to at least a portion of the liquidconduit 131. The liquid pump 140 may move the liquid through the liquidconduit 131 in response to rotation of the motor.

The liquid condensation unit 150 may include a surface condenser and adirect-contact condenser, but is not limited thereto.

The liquid condensation unit 150 may be disposed within at least aportion of the main body 110, and may be connected to at least a portionof the liquid conduit 131. As such, the liquid condensation unit 150 maythe liquid conduit 131 to cool any hot air collected and/or releasedfrom the conduit connector 132, the peltier plate 133, and/or the heatsink 134. As such, the liquid condensation unit 150 may generate andcollect any liquid droplets formed on an outer surface of the liquidconduit 131 to be dispersed within the main body 110. Therefore, theliquid condensation unit 150 may prevent and/or minimize heat generationwithin the main body 110.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the power source 160 is illustrated to be apower cord. However, the power source 160 may be a battery and a solarcell, but is not limited thereto.

The power source 160 may provide power to the hybrid cooling unit 130,the liquid pump 140, and/or the liquid condensation unit 150.

Therefore, the hybrid cooling storage device 100 may be a more efficientcooling device than a conventional cooler because it is not reliant onair for cooling.

The present general inventive concept may include a hybrid coolingstorage device 100, including a main body 110 to store at least one itemtherein, a lid 120 pivotally disposed on at least a portion of the mainbody 110 to cover an interior portion of the main body 110, and a hybridcooling unit 130 disposed on and within at least a portion of the mainbody 110, including a liquid conduit 131 disposed within at least aportion of each side of the main body 110 to transport a liquid therein,a conduit connector 132 connected to a first end and a second end of theliquid conduit 131 to dissipate heat from the liquid received from theliquid conduit 131, a peltier plate 133 disposed on at least a portionof the conduit connector 132 to create a difference in temperaturebetween a first side and a second side of the peltier plate 133, suchthat the first side is cold and the second side is hot, a heat sink 134disposed on at least a portion of the peltier plate 133 to dissipateheat generated on the peltier plate 133, and a fan 135 disposed on atleast a portion of the heat sink 134 to extract heat from the heat sink134 via a rotation of the fan 135.

The hybrid cooling storage device 100 may further include a liquid pump140 connected to at least a portion of the liquid conduit 131 to movethe liquid through the liquid conduit 131.

The hybrid cooling storage device 100 may further include a liquidcondensation unit 150 connected to at least a portion of the liquidconduit 131 to cool hot air released from at least one of the conduitconnector 132, the peltier plate 133, and the heat sink 134 using theliquid conduit 131, such that the liquid condensation unit 150 generatesand collects liquid droplets formed on an outer surface of the liquidconduit 131.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept havebeen shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing fromthe principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope ofwhich is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A hybrid cooling storage device, comprising: a main body to store atleast one item therein; a lid pivotally disposed on at least a portionof the main body to cover an interior portion of the main body; and ahybrid cooling unit disposed on and within at least a portion of themain body, comprising: a liquid conduit disposed within at least aportion of each side of the main body to transport a liquid therein, aconduit connector connected to a first end and a second end of theliquid conduit to dissipate heat from the liquid received from theliquid conduit, a peltier plate disposed on at least a portion of theconduit connector to create a difference in temperature between a firstside and a second side of the peltier plate, such that the first side iscold and the second side is hot, a heat sink disposed on at least aportion of the peltier plate to dissipate heat generated on the peltierplate, and a fan disposed on an entire length of the heat sink toextract heat from the heat sink via a rotation of the fan, such that alength of the heat sink is equivalent to a length of a fan housing, suchthat the fan extracts heat from the heat sink received directly from thepeltier plate.
 2. The hybrid cooling storage device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a liquid pump connected to at least a portion of the liquidconduit to move the liquid through the liquid conduit.
 3. The hybridcooling storage device of claim 1, further comprising: a liquidcondensation unit connected to at least a portion of the liquid conduitto cool hot air released from at least one of the conduit connector, thepeltier plate, and the heat sink using the liquid conduit, such that theliquid condensation unit generates and collects liquid droplets formedon an outer surface of the liquid conduit.
 4. A hybrid cooling storagedevice, comprising: a main body to store at least one item therein; alid pivotally disposed on at least a portion of the main body to coveran interior portion of the main body; and a hybrid cooling unit disposedon and within a side of the main body and flush with respect to an outersurface of the side of the main body, comprising: a liquid conduitdisposed within at least a portion of each side of the main body totransport a liquid therein, a conduit connector connected to a first endand a second end of the liquid conduit to dissipate heat from the liquidreceived from the liquid conduit, a peltier plate disposed on at least aportion of the conduit connector to create a difference in temperaturebetween a first side and a second side of the peltier plate, a heat sinkdisposed on at least a portion of the peltier plate to dissipate heatgenerated on the peltier plate, such that a length of the heat sink isequivalent to a length of the peltier plate, and a fan disposed on atleast a portion of the heat sink to extract heat from the heat sink viaa rotation of the fan.